This document provides guidance on writing a research plan with 3 key steps: 1) Define the topic by stating a geographic problem/question and hypotheses. 2) Devise a methodology including the location being studied, background research sources, field measurements, and data to be collected from primary and secondary sources. 3) The data collection section notes primary data is obtained directly through observation/surveys while secondary data is collected by others for different purposes.

1. 5 Credits
AS91244 - 2.5- Conduct
Geographic research with guidance

2. Writing a Research Plan
 Your research plan details your aim (what you intend to find out) and how you
intend to do this.
 Firstly Step 1 – Define your topic.
1. State a geographic “problem” or issue (begin with What is…, Why
is…Where are…What if… How has…etc)
2. Justify your choice of topic. This topic was chosen:
 Because it covered the following geographic concepts (location, distance,
change, perception, region, environment, pattern, process, system..)
 Because…
 Because…
3. State your hypothesis, that is the tentative answers to your questions (that your
wrote in response to no.1).
 Hypothesis 1 : I would expect that………..
 Hypothesis 2 : I would expect that………..

3. Data Collection – what will you need
to record?
 Primary Data
 Information obtained directly from the source by
observation, surveys or experimentation.
 Secondary Data
 Information collected by someone else for
another purpose.

4.  Step 2: Devise a plan of Investigation (Methodology)
1. Location of region(s) chosen to carry out research
(what and where)
2. Useful sources for background
information(textbooks, websites, news items etc..)
• Source:…………..Information gained……………….
• How does this information relate to the topic?..............
3. Measurement in the field.
Instrument required …………………………………..
Dates of field research…………………………………
4. What resources (photo’s statistics, etc) do you need
to collect?